The Federal Government has revealed plans to discontinue its visa-on-arrival policy, describing it as “unsustainable” and a potential security risk.

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Friday at the graduation ceremony of 100 officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service who underwent a five-day specialised training on the application of Advance Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record data in national security and law enforcement at the service headquarters, Abuja.

Explaining the benefits of a data-driven visa system, Tunji-Ojo said, “We believe that it is better for us to make decisions based on objectivity rather than subjectivity.

“Of course, that will lead to the cancellation of the visa-on-arrival process because visa-on-arrival, we understand, is not a system that works.

“I don’t expect you to just come to my country without me knowing you’re coming in. No, it’s never done anywhere.”

According to the minister, Advance Passenger Information systems will be deployed at the land borders.

Also, new regulations would require pre-arrival clearance from Interpol, criminal record systems and other background-check agencies in real-time.

He stated, “We’ve sorted API in five international airports. We’ll now adapt it to land borders because we’ve seen a pattern where people fly out and re-enter through the land borders.

“What we are looking at is that for any decision that borders on immigration into Nigeria, it will be impossible for approvals to be given without the clearance of Interpol, criminal record system and all background checking agencies in real-time. We have to ensure this.”

“When it comes to security,” he explained further, “life will never remember us for the 99 per cent we get right. History will remember us for the 1 per cent we do wrong. And security is not a sector where you can afford to be 99.9 per cent accurate. It just has to be 100 per cent.”

Set to commence between March 1 and April 1, 2025, he said the reforms aim to protect Nigerians and meet international security obligations.

“We must be responsible in the comity of nations,” the minister concluded, vowing to defend “even the weakest Nigerian with our last drop of blood.”

Nigeria’s visa-on-arrival policy was introduced to simplify entry procedures for eligible foreign nationals visiting for business or tourism.

Instead of obtaining visas at Nigerian embassies or consulates before travel, qualified travellers could receive entry approval upon landing, provided they met all documentation and fee requirements.